The mission of Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas is to restore the lives of abused children by supporting children’s advocacy centers in partnership with local communities and agencies investigating and prosecuting child abuse.

Description:
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc. is a statewide membership association providing training, technical assistance and funding for 61 local children’s advocacy centers throughout the state.

History:
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc. (CACTX) is a non-profit, membership association founded in 1994 with a charter membership of 13 local centers. Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas established minimum standards for centers in Texas and, in 1995, secured enabling legislation now found in Chapter 264 of the Texas Family Code. In addition, a $3 million biennial appropriation for CACs was obtained during that same legislative session. An executive director was hired and a fully operational state association headquarters opened in Austin in November of 1995.

In 1997, the Texas Family Code language was enhanced to better define children’s advocacy centers (CACs) and their mission and the $3 million appropriation was renewed for the following two years. In 1999, the state association and local centers from throughout the state were successful in their efforts to have the funding source for state appropriated monies moved to Crime Victim Compensation Fund, administered by the Office of the Attorney General, and secured an increase in funding from $3 million to $5 million. In 2001, the appropriation increased to $8 million for the biennium, reflecting the healthy growth and continued success of the CAC movement in Texas. This $8 million appropriation was also approved for FY2004-FY2005 and FY2006-FY2007.

During the period of September 2005 through August 2006, more than 30,103 children received services through a CAC.

At this time the membership roster for the state association includes 66 CACs. In addition, children in 90 additional counties receive a myriad of courtesy services from children’s advocacy centers in nearby communities.

It is hoped that eventually every child abuse victim in the state of Texas will have access to the services provided by a children’s advocacy center.

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas represents the largest such membership organization of CACs in the nation.

Contact person: Emma-Lee Caprio, Finance Manager, (512) 258-9920, (email)

Address:

1501 W. Anderson Lane Bldg. B-1 Austin, TX 78757 (See a map)

Directions:

IH-35 heading South 1. I-35 E South to Austin 2. Exit 240A/239 onto US-183 North 3. Stay on access road for US-183 North 4. Turn LEFT (West) onto Anderson Square 5. Turn RIGHT (West) onto W Anderson Lane 6. Before light at Burrell St., turn LEFT into CACTX parking lot IH-35 heading North 1. I-35. . . (more) For maps or information, please see http://www.capmetro.org/riding/trip_info.asp